Worktable



P. B. POLEN WOHKTABLE May 6, 1969 Filed Jan. l5, 1968 ff j;

United States Patent O U.S. Cl. S-24 7 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A table comprising in combination:

(a) a generally vertical, continuous closure panel,

(b) a generally horizontal, bottom member joined with the closure panel at a lower position thereof,

(c) a generally horizontal, top member space'd above the bottom member connected to the closure panel at an upper portion thereof and forming with the latter and with the bottom member a chamber,

(d) passageway means providing communication between the uppermost. surfaces of the top member and the chamber,

(e) outlet means providing communication between the chamber and the atmosphere.

(f) air moving means for drawing air from the uppermost surface of the top member through the passageway means into the chamber and discharging it therefrom to the atmosphere via the outlet means.

This invention relates to a table and more particularly to a laboratory table having internal Ventilating means to remove vapors or gases from the uppermost surfaces of the working area of the table.

In conducting chemical experimentations, dangerous and noxious gases, including many which are heavier than air, are often generated which provide a serious health hazard to personnel conducting the experiments. T o eliminate this hazard such experimentation usually is conducted by placing the laboratory equipment for the experimentation on a work surface confined within an enclosed, ventilated hood which safely exhausts the gases upwardly away from the work area. While utilization of these enclosed, ventilated hoods eliminates this hazard, such utilization involves limitations which adversely affect the efficiency and ease with which such experimentation can be conducted. Aside from the limited space available within the hoods for the necessary equipment, the enclosed arrangement of the vented hood makes access to the confined work surface within the hood for manipulation of the equipment or for the addition of reagents both difficult and tedious. Notwithstanding such limitations, enclosed ventilated hoods have become the standard apparatus for conducting chemical experimentation where dangerous or noxious fumes exist or are generated.

The object of this invention therefore is to provide a work table which is ventilated for the safe removal of gases or vapors from its work surface and which is free from the confining restrictions of an enclosed, vented hood or ventilated enclosure assembly. Another object is to provide a laboratory Work table having integrally associated ventilation means which permit unrestricted, continuous access to the working surface, and which is particularly adaptable for use where heavier than air gases or vapors exist. These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following further detailed description thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, FIGURE 1 is a top view of a preferred form of the present invention. FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken generally along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the figures, the present invention comprises a work table illustrated in generally rectangular config- 3,442,230 Patented May 6,l 1969 ice uration and generally defined by a top member or work surface 10, a continuous closure panel member compris ing panels 11, 12, 13 and 14, a bottom member 15, and supporting legs 16 and 17. The top member 10, the panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 and the bottom member 15 form and define a chamber 18. Exhaust duct 19, interconnected to air moving means 20 consisting of a blower and duct 21 provides a passageway from the chamber 18 to the atmosphere via air purification means which are not illustrated. A passageway means or port 22 extending downwardly through the top member 10 provides fluid communication between the upper surface of the top member or work surface 10 and the chamber 18. The port 22 is positioned along the margin of the top member 10 and is defined or bounded by the vertical side edges of the top member 10 and the portions of the closure members 11, 12, 13 and 14 in registry therewith. The top member or work surface area 10` is supported at an upper position of the closure panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 and is connected to the closure panels by support means 23, 24, 25 and 26 which extend outwardly from the closure panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 respectively, into the top member 10.

In operation the air, and particularly any heavier than air gases or vapors, on the uppermost surface of the top member or work surface 10 is drawn by means of the blower 20 through the port 22 into the chamber 18 and is exhausted from the chamber 18 via the ducts 19 and 21.

In the table of this invention by having the Ventilating system integrally associated with the top member or work surface 10 by means of the port 22 positioned along the margin of the work surface 10 to deflect the gases and vapors on the surface downwardly, the conventional overhead enclosed, hooded vent assembly is avoided. This permits free and unrestricted, continuous access to the top member or working surface 10 for manipulation of any equipment thereon or for the addition of any required reagents during the experimentation being conducted.

The arrangement of the port or passageway 22 through the top member 10 which provides fluid communication between the uppermost surface o-f the top member 10 and the chamber 18 can be varied depending upon the particular desired utilization of the table. For example, the passageway through the top member 10` can consist of a plurality of ports disposed over the surface area of the top member 10. Alternatively, the passageway can consist of an elongated port positioned along at least one of the margins of the top member 10` parallel to one of the panels 11, 12, 13 or 14. A preferred arrangement, however, is to have the passageway form a continuous elongated port, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, around the margin of the top member '10 bounded or defined by the vertical side edges of the top member 10 and the portions of the closure panels 121, 12, 13 and 14 in registry therewith.

In removing or exhausting the air from the uppermost surface of the top member 10', it is important that the flow pattern of the air movement around and through port 22 not be erratic or form edldies which wouldadversely affect the removal of air from the entire upper surface of the top member 10. While the flow pattern of the air movement is in part a function of the air velocity through the port 22 which in turn is partly a function of the volume of air moved therethrough controllable by air moving means 20, this flow pattern also is a function of the dimensional relationship between the cross-sectional area of the port member 22 and the area of the top member 10. Thus to achieve suitable ventilation of the entire upper surface of top member 10, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the port 22 tol the area of the top member or work surface 10` should be maintained within the limits of from about 1 to 20 to about 4 to 20.

In the above description of the invention, it should be understood that the preferred embodiments were described for purposes of illustration and description only. Description of these preferred embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the precise form or arrangements known and discussed. These embodiments are chosen in order to conveniently explain the principles of the invention and their application in practical use so as to enable those skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and modications as are best adopted to the particular use contemplated.

I claim:

1. A table comprising in combination:

(a) a generally vertical, continuous closure panel,

(b) a generally horizontal, bottom member joined with the closure panel at a lower position thereof,

(c) a generally horizontal, top member spaced above the bottom member connected to the closure panel at an upper portion thereof and forming with the latter and with the bottom member a chamber,

(d) passageway means providing communication between the uppermost surfaces of the top member and the chamber,

(e) outlet means providing communication between -the chamber and the atmosphere,

(f) air moving means for drawing air from the uppermost surface of the top member though the passageway means into the chamber and discharging it therefrom to the atmosphere via the outlet means.

2. The table of claim 1 wherein the passageway means comprises a plurality of ports extending downwardly through the top member.

3. The table of claim 2 wherein the ports are positioned near the margin of the top member.

4. The table of claim 1 wherein the passageway means comprises at least one elongated port extending downwardly through the top member and positioned along at least one of the margins of the top member.

5. The table of claim 4 wherein the elongated port is defined by a vertical side edge of the top member and a portion of the closure panel in registry therewith.

6. The table of claim -1 wherein the passageway means comprises an elongated port extending downwardly `through the top member and positioned continuously along the margin of the top member.

7. The table of claim l6 wherein the elongated port is dened by the verticle side edges of the top member and the portion of the closure panel in registrytherewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

